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Welcome to the May edition of our on-line newsletter. This edition is packed with news of what's happening locally, regionally and nationally and we hope you find something of interest here. This month is proving to be one of our busiest months so far this year with the streetgames initative really taking off, and the devlopment of the Keyfund in Sunderland now underway.

As most of you are probably aware SVSYF hold the licence for developing Sunderland's Keyfund and as such are responsible for coordinating all Keyfund activity including the paperwork and the payments of cheques. New paperwork has been sent to all facilitators before Christmas but you can download packs from the members section of the Keyfund website.

As Streetgames in Sunderland is now starting to develop we have made a dedicated page to keep you up to date with news, click here to find out about FREE taster days for staff and young people, streetgames training opportunties, and the chance to particpate in local and regional festivals

On Friday 1st May Elaine Harbron (Engagement Team, Digital Challenge) organised a "HEX Hoolie" in the youth room (definition - Irish get together, party in a small place!).

We are trying to encourage more people to use the Hex room as a networking tool, so feel free to join us, just complete the on-line application form, there is no software or special equipment needed - its web based and is completely safe, so come and join us, you'll be assured of a warm welcome. We hope to host some of our Keyfund network meetings on-line using the Hex room, so why not give it a go? CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE

Don't forget if you have any news you'd like to share please send it to us and we will include it in our newlsetter next time; our readership is expaning by the week so if you want to reach a large audience with news of what's happening in your orgnisation send us your updates.

Have a great bank holiday weekend - Amanda and Steve

SVSYF News

Keyfund Community Panel Meetings - Groups of young people will now need to book into a Community Panel Meeting ( a maximum of 5 groups per meeting) which will be held twice monthly in different areas of the city. June panel dates are confirmed and have been added to our on-line calendar. Book your place early as we anticipate demand will be high. If you are interested in the Community Panel Training please get in touch.

Membership - we have been advised by the Keyfund Federation that if you have not paid your membership fee, you will be lapsed as a member and if in the future you want to re-instate your membership you will need to re-train and there will be a fee. We cannot accept registrations from facilitators who have not paid their membership fees.

Paperwork - please ensure all paperwork is completed correctly including young peoples dates of birth, postcodes, ethnicity etc, we cannot process ideas without this informatio, and you are uisng the new docs packs that inlcude the skills wheel. All Keyfund queries can now be directed to Amanda on 5655144.

SVSYF Members News

Star Festival - Show Racism the Red Card Event.
ODYPP - Jamie and Lewsi from Oxclose and District Young People's Project have fronted a campaign to ban the sale of cigarettes from vending machines. Last year a group of young people from the proejct took part in a workshop with FRESH and Gibber exploring smoking . Read the article that appeared in the Sunday Sun here	A690 Youth Initative - An article regarding their mobile youth Work Village appears in the supplement - Open for the Weekend

Other areas of Interest

"How We spent it in Sunderland" - Featuring updates of funding given to Young Asian Voices, Pennywell Youth Project, and A690 Youth Initative - Youth Opportunity Fund update

In defence of Youth Work - North-East Regional Gathering Developing and Defending Youth Work:
A Workshop Monday 15th June, 10.00 to 13.30 (lunch included) St John’s Church Hall, Grainger Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 5JG Opening speaker: Bernard Davies THE VENUE is in the centre of Newcastle. map. BOOKINGS – in order for us to plan lunch, please register your intention to attend by contacting: 2742429, ask for Pearl or Don. Agenda or - for more info

Youth work's values under threat - By Janaki Mahadevan Children & Young People Now - published 14 May 2009
Youth workers are at risk of having to take up "enforcing" rather than "enabling" roles, an inquiry into integrated youth services has revealed. Youth worker and young man Credit: Tom Campbell Academics from De Montfort University, Leicester, visited 12 English councils to identify the impact of policies such as Aiming High for Young People and Every Child Matters on integrated youth support services.

The first report by visiting professors Bernard Davies and Bryan Merton has found youth workers are concerned that schemes that involve offering "non-negotiable support" to young people compromise "open-access" youth work rooted in voluntary participation. Squaring the Circle, which looks into youth work practice in the face of changing policies, also says confidentiality, a key principle of the relationship between youth workers and young people, could be threatened by the duty to co-operate with other agencies. The report says: "This inquiry has strengthened our view that these dilemmas are being rendered more acute as the state's interventions become increasingly prescriptive, intrusive and insistent." It also fears the distinctive style of youth work is being threatened by the use of accredited outcomes. Davies said: "Anyone who has their ear to the ground picks up lots of anecdotes about what is happening in youth work.

There is a lot of anxiety and anger that the core principles of youth work are under pressure and under threat by some policies, including Aiming High and Youth Matters. "It is important to get beyond the anecdotes and establish more clearly what is going on," he added. Last month, CYP Now reported around 80 people in the youth workforce had signed up to a campaign calling for a return to core youth work principles. They criticised the government's drive to impose an "instrumental framework" on youth work. On CYP Now's website, youth worker Tony Pretty said: "We need to ensure the next generation of young people and those working with them can aspire and achieve via the special relationship that grows from wanting to meet young women and men on their terms." The inquiry will be the subject of a conference at De Montfort University on 1 June. For information, email mpayne@dmu.ac.uk.

DCSF - guidance document - Safe from Bullying
Bullying can happen anywhere - not just in schools. For this reason, the Government has published Safe from Bullying, a suite of guidance and resources to help practitioners tackle bullying in: * Further education colleges; * Play and leisure provision; * Youth activities; * Children's Homes; * Extended services in and around schools; and on * Journeys around the community. These guidance documents set out how different local services can work together to prevent and respond to bullying. They are supported by guidance for local authorities and other strategic leaders on reducing bullying in the community and a suite of training resources.
Resources a/v - Bullying in Youth Activities

Training & Events Update

"Getting it Right for young peoples Health - A series of workshops aimed at youth workers and managers working in the voluntary and community sector. (North East Workshop will be at The Centre for life, Newcastle 2nd July 2009 10.00am - 3.30pm) Click here to find out more or for a booking form The Mediabox project enables young people to express their own opinions, ideas and views, to gain new skills, to be creative, boost their personal development and get their voices heard. Mediabox also wants to improve the portrayal of young people in the media. Funds a/v £500 and £1,000 for the project. Application forms and all the information you would need are available online Deadline for applications is Friday 29th May at 5pm. If you need more information please contact Marianne Patterson 0191 244 1439 marianne.patterson@bbc.co.uk Fairbridge Training - ‘Young People and Money’ and ‘Working More Effectively with Young People’ 1st June 2009 -Durham Durham University, Event Durham Room, GB17 Mountjoy, Research Centre Block, 2 Stockton Road, Durham. DH1 3UP - Free 2nd July 2009 - Sunderland Argent Centre, 24/26 Norfolk Street, Sunniside. Sunderland SR1 1EE. - Free Book your place here UK Youth The Healthaware Challenge. Young people who complete one or more Health and Wellbeing Activities as part of a registered group will receive a 'Healthaware Activity' certificate recognising their involvement. The Healthaware Activity certificates can recognise any health and wellbeing work you undertake with your young people. More info Sexual Health Week –Sexual health charity fpa has announced that this year’s Sexual Health Week -, which was due to take place on the week beginning 3 August 2009 -, will now be held 14 -20 September. Free campaign packs will also be unaffected. Children and Young People's Plan - Fill in the form and you could win a prize! Sunderland Children's Trust is preparing its Children and Young People's Plan, which is a plan that the Government asks us to do. The plan will run from 2010-25 and we want to identify those needs that are a priority for families in Sunderland. We need parents, carers, children and young people to tell us want priorities they think should be included in the plan. GIVE US YOUR VIEWS: - Take part in the On-line Survey

23rd and 29th May 09 - Streetcheer training and free taster ABA Boxing Tutors Course - Thursday 25th June 2009 Time: 8.30 - 4pm Venue: Lambton Street Youth Centre, 25 Falkland Road, Ford Estate, Sunderland, SR4 6XA Cost: £90.00 Full details about the course are attached as well as a booking form. Please note this course has proved to be very popular, so book now if you want a place. A partnership between StreetGames and Sports Leaders UK has enabled us to offer community based StreetGames projects the chance to become qualified to deliver the Level 1 (JSLA) and Level 2 (CSLA) Awards. Find out how here Introduction to Islam Course 'Introduction to Islam course', designed at providing the public and voluntary sector much needed training around Islam and the Muslim culture. It is a one day training course, which includes a full lunch, observation of the Muslim prayer and information pack. Currently they have spaces available on the following dates, for those who are interested in attending. Please confirm as early as possible to the dates which suit you best, and remember courses are limited to 20 people, so it is important to book early! The following dates are available in May 2009; •           Tuesday 26th May 2009 The following dates are available in June 2009; •           Thursday 4th June 2009 •           Wednesday 17th June 2009 At present they have been getting excellent reviews for this course and quality of delivery and benefit is resounding. Please see attached documents for more information. Participation Works Training Opportunities Participation Works are holding a free training course for voluntary, community and other third sector organisations in Newcastle on 23 July. The training programme is being delivered England-wide by a team of Participation Works approved trainers, including young people who are aged 16-19 years. Courses are free to voluntary, community and other third sector organisations (1 person per organisation) and £85 for statutory organisations. To book a place or find out more about the course, visit our Gateway: http://www.participationworks.org.uk or call the Enquiry Line: 0845 603 6725 NYA have announced the theme for this year Youth Work Week, 1st - 7th November, focusing on 2 key qualities that youth workers have helped impart, and which young people are going to need. Resilience (able to bounce back from life's disappointments and setbacks and carry on in pursuit of your aspirations) and resourceful (posessing the ability to dig deep yourself and in the environment you are in to find and use resources that help you respond to lifes opportunites and risk.)

Funding News

Looking for new places to visit or inspiration for the summer? - Why not use our on-line forum to ask questions or seek out information? - There are 2 new posts on there today.

What's on this May half term in lesiure centres across the city - info leaflet

Tenpin Bowling Ltd, Sunniside Leisure Complex, High Street West would like to let you know about their Time Out Package- The Timeout Package is a membership club for registered groups, clubs and charities. Joining up is free and without obligation. Exclusive to Time Out Members are the following discounted daytime rates: • Bowling only £3.00 per game per person , however if you play before 3pm further discounts apply • 1 game of Bowling and a junior meal only £5.00 • 2 games of Bowling and a junior meal only £6.00 In order for representatives to sample they would like to invite up to four members of staff from your centre for a free game of bowling on Monday 8 June 2009; you will need to book - Leaflet and information

Dates for your diary
Don't forget you can advertise courses, events or actitivites for workers and young people in our calendar of events for free - why not look around and see what's on?

Calendar of Events